Of the three days so far in April, the M/V Sea Lion is batting 100% in terms of whale sightings. Yesterday was a spectacular day on the water, definitely in my top five of trips ever… It’s not even summer! Captain Mike, Naturalist Andrew, and I elected to head north out of Friday Harbor, and then decided to travel around the north end of San Juan Island towards Haro Strait. We had a bluebird day and there was wildlife everywhere.
The tour started with some awesome looks at some foraging Steller’s sea lions. The pinnipeds were spread out in the smooth, upwelling water of Spieden Island in relaxed rafts. The animals took turns taking short dives, and floating up to the surface. In the last few days these behemoths have appeared to just be hanging out enjoying the fresh spring sunshine after a long and very grey winter.
We continued on our way making a turn south around Henry Island out into Haro Strait. We found ourselves surrounded by foraging Dall’s porpoises, and were even treated to a few moments of them bowriding, or surfing the wave created by the boat moving through the water. The speedy black and white critters left us at about Kellet Bluff as we continued south into the strait, searching for baitballs surrounded by opportunistic bald eagles.
Bowriding Dall's Porpoise Sarah McCullaghThe first whale we encountered was a humpback named BCY0324 or “Big Mama,” as she slowly surfaced next to the boat. Big Mama is a special whale to us here in the San Juans, as she was one of the first whales to return to the area after her species was extirpated from the area in the 1960’s. After spending about fifteen minutes with the giant humpback, we headed further south into Haro Strait on the search for orcas.
BCY0324 Big Mama the Humpback Whale Sarah McCullaghWe first encountered J26 Mike, one of our Southern Resident Killer Whales as he was taking long dives, hopefully finding lots of fish! We moved in shore from J26 and found his little sister J36 Alki and her two-year-old son J52 Sonic traveling and socializing close to shore. J52 is looking plump, and his beautiful open saddlepatch has started to brighten. It has been so cool to see J36 in this new maternal role over the last couple of years.
Heading further south along the shore of San Juan Island, we encountered the rest of the J16 matriline, J42 Echo was babysitting, foraging, and playing with her little sister J50 Scarlet, as their mother J16 Slick foraged nearby. What followed was one of the most incredible whale encounters I have ever had on the water. We had our engines shut down as the whales foraged and went for a deeper dive clearly chasing a fish. Next J16 and J50 surfaced at about 150 yards off the shore-side of the boat, at this point we were just drifting with the tide. J42 popped up on the opposite side of the boat, and, most excitingly, was chasing and corralling a 30-40 pound salmon towards her mother and her younger sister. The whales circled the M/V Sea Lion clearly teaching J50 the ins and outs of catching fish. It was a touching illustration of the familial ties that these whales embody and an incredible moment to witness. Certainly an encounter I will never forget.
We left the orcas and headed further south around Cattle Point. Spotting bald eagles, harbor seals, and sea lions along the way.
If the summer continues on like this spring, we are in for quite the ride!
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